Howard County Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes aimed to reassure the community last week amid possible changes in federal immigration enforcement, saying the district always works to provide a safe environment for students.

During his superintendent report at the Jan. 16 Board of Education meeting, Barnes said he has been receiving messages and having conversations with community members concerned about possible changes in federal immigration practices as President-elect Donald Trump took office.

Of top concern is immigration enforcement on school grounds, Barnes said. Barnes said the Howard County Public School System isn’t “aware of any such incident occurring in Maryland or across the nation,” but provided clarity on the school system’s procedures for visitors, including unannounced state or federal agencies.

He also explained that the Department of Homeland Security outlines in a published document that immigration enforcement actions cannot occur at schools.

Schools will continue to follow the same process for unexpected visitors that has been in place for years, Barnes said.

When visitors arrive, they must come into the office or another private area escorted by the principal or assistant principal who must be briefed about their reason for being at the school. School administrators can receive support and guidance from the Division of Schools or General Counsel when dealing with unannounced visitors, Barnes said.

“While we will not obstruct a state or federal agent carrying out a lawful order on school grounds, I want to assure our community and our students and our staff that we’re doing all that we can to maintain a safe learning environment free of disruptions,” Barnes said.

Trump was sworn in Monday to serve a second term as president. He has promised to crack down on immigration with a mass deportation operation, raising concerns from many, as state and local leaders grapple with how to respond.

In November, Gov. Wes Moore’s administration hired a consultant to analyze the impact Trump’s campaign proposals and platform could have on programs and funding, and provide risk assessments with methods for the state to respond.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, a Democrat, said he is accustomed to ensuring local residents have “excellent” services and quality of life and that he took office in 2018 during Trump’s first administration. Ball dealt with one of the longest federal government shutdowns when the state was led by former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican.

“We’re going to continue ensuring that Howard County has an excellent quality of life. And I think with our proximity to Baltimore and D.C., we always continue to work with our partners to offer mutual aid when necessary on other issues that help ensure the quality of life and the public safety,” Ball said.

Howard County will continue to abide by state and federal laws as it always has, Ball said after he received a letter from a nonprofit led by Trump’s deputy chief of policy and homeland security adviser and other former members of his administration threatening “criminal and civil liability” for noncompliance with federal immigration laws.

Federal agents follow guidelines in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security document preventing them from taking immigration enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as schools or bus stops. Should the document change or an instance of immigration enforcement occur on school grounds anywhere, the district will need to reconsider its protocols, Barnes said. The school system will also continue to work with county and community organizations to connect families requiring more assistance to the proper resources.

“The safety, security and well-being of our students is always at the forefront of my mind,” Barnes said. “And I emphasize with students, staff and families, those who have talked to me and those who I have not yet had the opportunity to speak with, but who have conveyed that they are living in a state of fear of the unknown, that we will continue to facilitate and maintain positive learning environments in our schools while working to support you in the best ways that we can.”

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